The title serves as fair notice: here’s another Sundance-approved pseudo indie reconstituted from equal parts quirk and fluff. Whatever insight resided in Jesse Andrews’ YA novel – about an affectless teen film buff (Thomas Mann) renewed via encounters with his leukaemia-stricken neighbour (Olivia Cooke) – director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon doodles over with nerdy movie mock-ups, sensitive Eno soundscapes, and talking Hugh Jackman posters tacked to wallpaper intended, at the last, to signify personal growth.
The promising Cooke has moments that almost pierce this artful carapace with something like truth, but it remains a thoroughly cellophaned package, no more affecting – or lasting – than a vaguely colourful baguette from an upmarket sandwich chain.
